Check-controlled switch mechanism



May 27, 1930. J. F. MEYER' I I CHECK CONTROLLED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 8, 1928 Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN F. MEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CHECK-CONTROLLED SWITCH MECHANISM Application filed December 8, 1928. Serial No. 324,620.

This invention relates to check controlled switch mechanisms and its object is to provide novel means of simple construction wherein a predetermined coin isadapted to close an electric circuit for initiating and sustaining the operation of certain parts during a prescribed movement.

Another object of the invention is to employ a coin for completing an electric circuit to efiect a prescribed movement and novel means for automatically releasing the coin to break the circuit at the completion of the movement.

And a further object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism wherein a predetermined coin closes an electric circuit to ini- .tiate a prescribed movement and ofl'set a release device for automatically releasing the coin and breaking the circuit at the completion of said movement.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing a selected movement of the invention,

Fig. 1 illustrates the mechanism installed on a frame which is shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch device 111 normal position and showing a coin in broken lines supported in operating position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the switch show- -3o ing the coin in broken lines and about to be released.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 ofFig.2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Referring to thedrawings 1 is a frame, 2 is a base made of fibre, hard rubber or other insulating material and upon which the various parts of the switch are mounted. A coin receiver 3 is fastened on the base by screws 4 which extend through slots 4 in the base, whereby the receiver may be adjusted to accommodate any size coin. The coin receiver is located at the bottom of a coin chute 5 and is provided with an inclined shoulder 6 which is engaged by the coin 7 and which spaces a part of the receiver from the base to accommodate the coin therebetween. A lever 8 is eccentrically pivoted on the base at 9, near one end, and is weighted at its free end clockwise, the bell crank is swung on its pivot to assist the spring 10 which is fastened at one end to the lever and at its other end to the base to hold the lever in normal position, Fig. 2, so that the point 11 of the lever will cooperate with the shoulder 6 to arrest the coin after it is discharged from the chute and to hold it during the operation of the mechanism. A plate 12 is fastened on the base by screws 13 and one end 14 of the plate is upturned and slotted at 15 to receive the lever 8 and to limit the movement of the lever. A motor 17 issupported on the frame and drives a main shaft 18 supported in bearings 18' on the frame and carrying a worm 19 which drives a gear 20. The main shaft 18 may be connected up to any mechanism which it is desired to operate for a prescribed period. A link 21 is pivotally connected at one endto a crank 22 rigid with the gear 20 and at its other end to one arm 23 of a bell crank which is pivotally mounted at 24 on a bracket 25 se cured to the base 2. The other arm 23 of the bell crank carries a tripper 26 which is pivwhich is inclined to corres 0nd with the shoulders. -The construction is such that the tripper will be held in rigid position alined with the arm 23'- on any upward movement of the arm but may be swung on its pivot on a downward movement of the arm. This tripper is made of fibre, hard rubber or other insulating material. The electric circuit 29 is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the conductor wire being connected to a screw 4 and a screw 13 so that the circuit may be completed by a coin 7 engaging the receiver 3 and the lever 8. In practice a coin of predetermined size is deposited in the chute, travels through the chute into the space between the lever end 11 and the shoulder 6 of the receiver, Fig. 2, and completes the electric circuit, thereby starting the motor and operating the shaft 18. 95 At this time the tripper is in up position, Fig. 1, above the 'lever 8 and the end 11 of the lever is held in up position by spring 10 to receive the coin. As the gear 20 revolves,

and carries the tripper down to a position shown in full lines inFig. 5 below the lever 8, the tripper swinging on its pivot in passing the lever and being restored to alined position with the arm 23 by spring 28 after it passes the lever. In a half turn of the gear 20 the tripper is swung from its up position to its down position and on the next half turn of the gear 20 the tripper is swung up from its down position to its up position. On the up travel oi the tripper it engages under the lever 8 and swings the lever upward sufliciently to release the coin which drops into a suitable rece tacle, not shown. The bell crank swings t e tripper. up to clear the lever so that the spring 10 may reset the lever for the next coin. The invention can be applied to many different kinds of coin operated machines where a prescribed movement is initiated by deposit of a predetermined coin and is intended to be sustained for a given period, as in the case of display machines.

I have shown the invention in a form which I have found satisfactory for the purpose but I reserve the right to make all such changes as may be necessary or desirable for adapting the invention for different embodiments and installations Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of the character described comprising a coin receiver and an eccentrically pivoted lever adapted to support a coin therebetween, an electric circuit including said receiver and lever and adapted to be completed by said coin, a motor in said circuit, and means operated by said motor and comprising a pivoted tripper arranged to travel in a path which includes said lever and to pass said lever, said tripper being mounted to yield in passing the lever in one direction and adapted to engage and operate the lever in passing in the opposite direction to release the coin.

2. A mechanism of the character described comprising a coin receiver and an eccentrically pivoted lever adapted to support a coin therebetween, an electric circuit including said receiver and lever and adapted to be completed by said coin, a motor in said circuit, and means operated by said motor and comprising a movable arm, a tripper pivoted to the arm, a spring acting on the tripper and permitting the tripper to yieldingly engage the lever when traveling in one direction, and means on the arm and tripper for holding the tripper in rigid position when traveling in the opposite direction to engage and operate the lever and release the coin.

3. A mechanism of the character described comprising a coin receiver, an eccentrically pivoted lever having an end adapted to support a coin between itself and the receiver, an electric circuit including said receiver and lever and adapted to be completed by said coin, a motor in said circuit,atripper arranged to be reciprocatcd in an arc and engaging said lever, said tripper being mounted to yield in passing the lever in its travel in one direction and to engage and operate the lever in its travel in the opposite direction to release the coin, and a crank device operated by the motor for controlling'the operation of the tripper.

4. A mechanism of the character described comprising a coin receiver, an eccentrically pivoted lever having an end adapted to support a coin between itself and the receiver, a spring normally holding the lever in coin supporting position, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the lever, an electric circuit including said receiver and lever and adapted to be completed by said coin, a pivoted arm, a tripper pivoted on said arm and adapted to be carried by the arm in a path of travel which is obstructed by the lever, means to enable the tripper to yield when engaging the lever on the downward movement of the arm, means for causing the tripper to engage and operate the lever to release the coin on the upward movement of the arm, a gear operated by said motor, and a crank rigid with said gear and connected with said arm to operate the arm.

JOHN F. MEYER. 

